Dubai is intensifying its efforts to reinforce its standing as a global hub for education tourism, thanks to a new partnership between Emirates and the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA). The two entities have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at backing Dubai’s goal of drawing in more international students, enhancing access to higher education and building stronger ties between students and the emirate. This collaboration will merge Dubai’s expanding higher education sector with Emirates’ vast international flight network, making travel to and from the city more convenient for students and their families.
The agreement was signed on the sidelines of Arabian Travel Market 2026 by Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, and Dr Wafi Dawood, CEO of the Strategic Development Sector at KHDA. This partnership is part of Dubai’s wider Education 33 (E33) strategy, which aims to reinforce the emirate’s reputation as an international hub for education while drawing talent and students from key markets worldwide.
Emirates Rolls Out Travel Perks for Students
Under the agreement, Emirates will create dedicated travel programmes for students enrolled at KHDA-regulated private higher education institutions in Dubai. The programme will provide a variety of travel-related perks, such as specially designed fares, extra baggage allowances and greater flexibility when booking.
These benefits are designed to make international travel simpler for students who need to move between Dubai and their home countries while studying. Faculty members and teaching staff will also gain access to travel benefits through the Emirates Academic Programme, while students in the Hamdan bin Mohammed Scholarship Programme will receive dedicated travel support from the airline.
The partnership is expected to make Dubai more accessible to international students while also assisting the families who travel with them or visit during the academic year. With Emirates linking Dubai to nearly 140 destinations, the airline’s network offers connections to a broad range of potential student markets. The collaboration thus unites air connectivity with education promotion, enabling students to view Dubai not just as a place to study but also as a destination that keeps them connected with their families and home markets throughout their academic journey.
Dubai Sets Sights on International Student Growth
Emirates will also take part in international student recruitment missions and promotional activities organized by KHDA in cooperation with Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism and TECOM Group. These initiatives will promote the Study Dubai programme and showcase opportunities within Dubai’s higher education sector in selected international markets served by Emirates. The airline and KHDA will also share information on international student travel patterns and coordinate promotional activities aimed at raising awareness of Dubai as a study destination.
Education is a key component of Dubai’s Economic Agenda (D33), with the Education 33 strategy setting out long-term targets for the sector. Through its City of Students initiative, Dubai aims to raise the proportion of international students in its higher education institutions to 50 percent by 2033. The strategy also aims to rank Dubai among the world’s top 10 student cities and to boost education tourism tenfold, making international student mobility an increasingly vital component of the emirate’s broader tourism and economic development plans.
Emirates Broadens Education Travel Partnerships
The newest agreement with KHDA follows another education-focused partnership between Emirates and the International Consultants for Exhibitions and Fairs (ICEF), a global business-to-business network that serves the international education sector. Through that agreement, Emirates has become ICEF’s preferred airline for education-related travel. ICEF operates in over 100 countries, linking education agencies with institutions via events, training programmes and market intelligence platforms.
Emirates and ICEF will develop dedicated travel options for ICEF-accredited education agencies and their student customers flying across the airline’s network. The partnership will also look into booking assistance and account management services for ICEF member organizations, while joint promotional campaigns will target international students and education professionals. Emirates will also take part in major ICEF events in Berlin, Dubai and the United States, giving the airline a stronger presence within the international education community.
The collaboration will go beyond travel services, with Emirates joining ICEF Academy programmes for education agents, sharing information on student travel and destination trends, and contributing to international conferences and industry initiatives. Taken together, the partnerships with KHDA and ICEF reflect Dubai’s efforts to connect education, international connectivity and destination promotion, reinforcing its ambition to become a major global hub for international students and education tourism.
